Method of conditioning chrome alloy wire and apparatus for the practice of said method



July 4, 1939. w. H. WOOD ET AL 2,164,850

METHOD OF comnnomue CHROMHALLOY WIRE AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRACTICE OF s/m) METHOD Filed March 10, 1936 65 V. AC

ATTORNE 5.

Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES METHOD OF CONDITIONING CHROME ALLOY WIRE AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRACTICE OF SAID METHOD William H. Wood, South Euclid, and Oscar-'0.

Trautman, Parma,

Ohio, assignors to Ira Grouse, Conneaut, Ohio Application March 14 1936, Serial No. 68,088

7 Claims.

Our invention pertains to improvements in the conditioning of wire and similar articles made of an alloy, such as nichrome and chrome alloys of iron, containing a high percentage of chromium. As is well understood, many such alloys are annealed when quickly quenched from a temperature of about 2100 F. An object of our invention is the production of an article fully annealed and pickled as a continuous operation. We have invented a new method of securing these desired results in a continuous operation and apparatus for the practice of said method.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means and steps hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims; the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain means and one mode of carrying out the invention, such disclosed means and mode illustrating, however, but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:

We have shown diagrammatically the elements of the conditioning apparatus which we use, disclosing the essential relation therebetween for the practice of our novel method.

In the practice of our method, the material to be treated is heated by passing a suitable electric current therethrough as the material is advanced past two electrodes in contact therewith. A current of 65 volts A. C. may be successfully used. For the advanced electrode we use a bath of metal, or alloy having a low melting point, which bath also functions as a medium to eii'ectv the desired quenching of the material. An alloy of tin and lead having a melting point of 400 F. is suggested. L

From the quenching bath the material is passed quickly to a pickling bath and is passed therefrom quickly to a rinse bath, which preferably contains in solution an agent which will neutralize any of the pickling solution carried over. To eifect the desired pickling action a direct current of electricity is passed between the material and an anode placed in the pickling bath, which anode is connected to one terminal of a source of electro-motive force. A current of from 6 to 10 volts may be used to secure the desired electrolytic action.

Successful pickling demands an even distribution of the electrolytic action throughout the wire in the bath. To secure such even distribu-- effect.

(01. 148-4) bath and the rinsing bath, thereby securing a current flow from the source of electro-motive force to the material being treated and thence through said material. From the material the current will pass through the pickling bath to meanode therein which, as stated, is connected to the other terminal of said source of electro-motive force. The distribution of current flow between the material and the anode will be substantially uniform with Referring to the drawing, our apparatus for the practice of said disclosed method comprises a :30- tating electrode 2 in contact with a wire I which is to be treated. This electrode! is connected to one terminal of a source ofelectro-motive force 3, the other terminal of which is electrically connected with the liquid metal in a quenching bath 4. The wire I is advanced into the liquid metal a resultant uniformity of pickling 1,0

of the quenching bath 4, thereby completing a 20 circuit for the flow of current from the source 3. The wire is held beneath the liquid metal by rollers 5, and is guided out of the bath by an idling roller 6, over whichit passes into a; pickling bath' 1, within which it is held by idling rollers 8. From the Pickling bath 1 the wire is guided by the idling roller 9 over which it passes into the rinsing bath I0, within which it is held by the idling roller II.

Within the pickling bath I the anode 2 is placed in parallel relation with a substantial portion of the wire I therewithin. This anode is electrically connected with the positive terminal of a source I3 of direct current. The other terminal of said source I3 is connected electrically 5 which is therebetween, and from the said wire I through the solution of the pickling bath 1 to the anode I2, from which it travels to the other terminal of the source I3.

In operation, a wire I will be heated to proper temperature, say in the neighborhood of 2100 F. by its resistance to the passage of an E. M. 'F. such as a 65 volt 'alternating current therethrough as it travels from the rotating electrode 2 to the quenching bath 4. It will be understood that the wire I is drawn through the apparatus by suitable means not shown, at a speed so proportioned to the current strength between electrode 2 and quenching bath 4, that the wirewill have the desired temperature as it enters the quenching bath.

, perature for the particular material.

Before emerging from the quenching'bath the wire will pick up'the direct current supplied by the source ll which is to effect the electrolytic pickling. Similar current will be supplied to the wire through the rinsing bath Ill. By supplying the direct current to the wire in this manner substantially uniformity of current density is maintained in the wire within the pickling bath. From the wire I the current will flow through the pickling bath to the anode l2 and the desired electrolytic action is set up for the entire length of the anode I2. i

From the pickling bath the treated wire is passed through a rinsing bath iflpwhich may preferably contain an agent which neutralizes the pickling bath which may be carried over in contact with the wire.

It will be observed that when conditioning chrome wire using our method and apparatus, selection may be made, in each step, of current having the characteristics which peculiarly adapt it to the work to be done. Also by using the quench bath and the rinse bath as contact means supplying current to the wire from one terminal of the 'electro-motive force used for electrolytic pickling, a highly desirable uniformity of current density in the wire is maintained in the portion which is being subjected to the pickling action.

Other forms may be employed embodying the and the steps herein disclosed, providedthe elements stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether produced by our preferred method or by others embodying steps equivalent to those stated in the following claims.

We therefore particularly pointout and tinctly claim as our invention:

1. Avmethod of conditioning in continuous oIo== eration a wire, or the like, formed of an alloy which softens and becomes more ductile when quickly quenched from a heated condition, com prising the steps of advancing such wire through an electrically conductive liquid bath; heating a section of such wire as it isadvanced, by passing through such section a heating current of electricity supplied through such bath, which current is of strength sufilclent to heat the wire to the desired temperature as it enters the bath; maintaining such bath at a desired temperature of quench; advancing such wire from the quench ath through a pickling bath; 1: rough the liquid of the pickling bath, between an anode therein and the wire passing there through, a direct current of electricity from a source of electromotive force, one terminal of which is connected to such anode and 'the other terminal of which has electrical connection through such quench bath with the wire being treated.

2, A method of conditioning, in continuous operation, a wire, or the like, formed of an alloy which is annealed when quickly quenched from a heated condition, comprising the steps of advancing such wire through a bath of liquid metal; heating a section oi such wire as it is advanced, by passing through such section a heating curand passing rent of electricity supplied through the metal bath, which current is oi' strength sufiicient to heat the wire to the desired temperature as it enters the metal bath; maintaining the metal 1 bath in a liquid condition at the desired quenching'temperature; advancing such wire from the metal bath successively through a pickling bath and a rinsing-bath; and passing through the'liq- I uid of the pickling bath, between an anode therewhich anneals when quenched quickly from a heated condition, comprising in combination, an electrode; a quenching bath of liquid metal in spaced relation with said electrode; means maintaining a potential of electromotive force between said electrode and said bath; a bath of pickling solution; an anode extending longitudinally in said pickling bath; a bath of rinsing liquid; an electrical connection between said anode and the positive terminal of a source supplying a direct current of. electricity; electrical connections between the negative terminal of said last-named source and said quenching bath and said rinsing bath; and means operative to advance a wire past said electrode in contact therewith and through said baths,

4. Apparatus for conditioning in continuous operation a wire, on the like, termed of an alloy, which ahneals when quickly quenched from a heated condition, comprising in combination an electrode; a duenching bath of liquid metal in spaced relation with said electrode; means maintaining a potential oi electromotive force between said electrode and said bath; a bath of pickling solution; an anode extending longitudinally in pickling loath; an electrical connection between said anode and the positive terminal eta source supplying a direct current oi electricity; an electrical connection hetween the negative terminal of said last-named source and said quenching loath; and means advancing a wire past said electrode in contact therewith and through said loathe.

5. A method of conditioning, in continuous operation, a wire, or the lllze, termed of metallic material which softens and becomes more ductile when quenched from acrltlcal temperature, com-. prising the steps of advancing such wire through a loath oi quenching liquid; maintaining such hath at the desired uenching temperature; heatlng successive cross=sections of such wire by passing electric cu'ment through a definite length thereof defined at ltsiorward end by the suri ace of such quench loath; supplying current to such wire through such quench loath sufiicient to raise the wire to the critical temperature as it enters the loath; advancing such wire from the quench bath to and through a leather pickling liquid; and passing through the liquid of the pickling bath, between an anode therein and the wire passing therethrough, a direct current oi liquid maintained at a desired quenching temperature; means operative to heat a wire, continuously advanced into said bath, to a dalred critical temperature in cross-sections thereof as they enter said bath, by its resistance to the passage of, an electric current therethrough which current is supplied to such wire through said quench bath; a bath of pickling liquid; an

anode extended longitudinally. in said pickling bath; an electrically conductive connection between said anode and the positive terminal of a source supplying a direct current of electricity; an electrically conductive connection between the negative terminal oi such source and the liquid qf said quenching bath; and means operative to longitudinally advance a wire continuously through said baths.

7. Apparatus for conditioning in continuous operation a wire, or the like, comprising in combination a quenching bath of electrically conductive liquid maintained at a temperature desired for quenching a heated wire passed therethrough; a bath of pickling liquid; an anode extended longitudinally of said pickling hath; an

electrically conductive connection between said anode and a terminal ot a source of electrometive force; an electrically conductive connection between the liquid of said quench bath and the other terminal of such source; and meansoperative to longitudinally advance a heatedwire into and through said quench bath and from it into and through said pickling bath.

WiI-LIAM H. WOOD.

OSCAR C. TRAUTMAN. 

